Because it's Christmas Eve and we're too tired to be doing much of anything, including redoing our own rankings in each division and City Section, we'll just repost these. Of course we'll give a little bit of commentary as well....can't resist.  Here is the LA Times Boys Top 25 for this week:

1. Westchester (9-0, CS-Western)

Times Commentary: Streaking Comets win second straight Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot tournament crown [sic....it's actually called the "City of Palms Bank of America Classic"]. (Ranked No. 1 last week)

SoCalHoops Commentary: Ditto.  The only team which might be as good as them is Fairfax, which means that they've got at least two, maybe three more epic battles this year.  Trevor Ariza was named the City of Palms MVP this year. 

2. Fairfax (12-1, CS-Western)

Times Commentary: Lions say "Aloha" to power Fresno Clovis West en route to Honolulu Lolani [sic, again guys, the tournament is called the "Iolani Classic" not the "Lolani"] tournament title. (3)

SoCalHoops Commentary: After winning the Iolani and knocking off national power Montrose Christian, as well as Clovis West, the 'Fax should receive a national ranking.

3. Fremont (9-1, CS-Coliseum)

Times Commentary:  Shelvion Williams' buzzer-beating three-pointer a joyous occurrence for Pathfinders against Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.). (4)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Unfortunately, this was the first time in 7 years that we missed the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic, so we can't say that we got to see Fremont this year against truly tough competition, but if they continue to play the way we hear they did in Vegas, they could be a team which could challenge Westchester and Fairfax come LA City tournament time.

4. Inglewood (7-1, SS-Bay)

Times Commentary:  DeAngelo Collins provides scoring punch as Sentinels win Gold Division of Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic. (11)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   We keep asking whether the 'Wood is really going to be this good again this year, and from everything we know, they will. Hard to argue with this selection, but one or two losses could have them out of the top 10.

5. Eisenhower (8-1, SS-Citrus Belt)

Times Commentary:  Eagles knock off Long Beach Poly, then fall to Crenshaw on a late basket. (9)

SoCalHoops Commentary: No argument from us on this one.  But we still think Crenshaw deserves to be within the top 10.....

6. Long Beach Poly (7-1, SS-Moore)

Times Commentary:  Jackrabbits rebound from Eisenhower loss by thumping Lompoc to take third place at Mission Prep tournament. (2)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  We're sort of surprised about the Jackrabbits' loss at the Mission Prep tournament, but Eisenhower has been a strong team and a dangerous one, and Poly needed the wake-up call. Still have probably more talent than anyone in their division, if they can bring it every night.

7. Santa Margarita (11-0, SS-Serra)

Times Commentary:  Eagles face stiffest test Wednesday against Fairfax. (7)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Santa Margarita has been powering over opponents, but as the Times notes (and as the SM coaches also acknowledge) they'll get a real test in the first round of the Torrey Pines tournament this week when they play Fairfax.  Why are these two playing in the first round?  Well, it seems that Chatsworth dropped out of the tournament when they lost their coach and star player in Frank Robinson (now at Sylmar), and Thousand Oaks dropped down to the American Division bracket, thus creating a need for someone to move up, and that someone was Santa Margarita, which was in the American bracket. 

8. Corona Centennial (8-1, SS-Mountain View)

Times Commentary:  San Diego Torrey Pines ends Huskies' hopes for undefeated season with 17-point drubbing. (6)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   A win over Mater Dei gave the Huskies top 10 status.  A loss to Torrey Pines doesn't drop them out, but it should likely move them down to make room for Crenshaw, who in our opinion ought to be top 10 right now.....Not that we don't love JR Reese and Lance Soderberg, because we do, and Centennial, in our view, has as much chance as any team in their division of making it back to the title game again, but time will tell....

9. Mater Dei (7-4, SS-Serra)

Times Commentary:  A fading Monarchy: football and basketball teams endure three-game losing streaks in same year. (8)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  The only reason, we're guessing that the Times hasn't bumped Mater Dei out of the top 10 is so they don't have their reporters kicked out of the gym at Mater Dei games....just kidding.  But seriously, what other team can lose three games in a row and still be considered a top 10 contender in Southern California?   On the other hand, looking at the teams that beat Mater Dei (Portland Jesuit, Corona Centennial, Thurston, and Little Rock Central), it's hard to imagine them playing against tougher teams....Ooops, almost forgot about that matchup with Oak Hill at the Nike Extravaganza..... Whatever has been bugging the Monarchs, keeping them from finishing well, had better be worked out soon.....

10. Glendora (8-1, SS-Baseline)

Times Commentary:  Tartans skip Glendora tournament, take week off instead. (10)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   We like Glendora, but given all the other teams, a top 10 spot might be just a bit high right now for them.  Of course, when you start out at No. 10 and don't lose because you take the week off, it's hard to argue that there should be any change, up or down (see below with El Segundo and Lakewood).

11. Muir (11-0, SS-Pacific)

Times Commentary:  Ryan Hollins is MVP of La Canada tournament. (12)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Hollins was actually not the MVP, at least not from what we've been told, and it was Jamal Hall. Or maybe they were co-MVP's....whatever.  It hardly makes any difference because Muir is loaded and no doubt deserves the No. 11 spot.

12. Compton Centennial (6-0, SS-Ocean)

Times Commentary:  Apaches' arrows are poison-tipped now that Darius Sanders is in the lineup. (13)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Compton Centennial doesn't rebuild, they reload. We weren't suprised to read about Darius Sanders, because we've known about it for weeks, but Saul Langster, who had transferred to Poly from Dominguez was a bit of a shocker, although it's probably a better situation for him than on a very crowded Jackrabbit team.  This is a team which once again is ensuring that it will make a return to the final four and an appearance at the State Tournament for the third year in a row. 

13. Villa Park (10-1, SS-Century)

Times Commentary:  Big man Sean Phaler loses shooting touch against Capistrano Valley. (5)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  A big drop given the loss to Capo Valley, but they'll rebound.   But out of the top 10 seems an appropriate result given the tournament loss.

14. Loyola (9-0, SS-Mission)

Times Commentary:  Shhhh ! Cubs could be a sleeping giant. (14)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  They aren't sleeping, and they will be giants in the league race, but whether they've got enough firepower to make an impact in a very crowded D-IA tournament field is going to be the big question.

15. Crenshaw (7-3, CS-Coliseum)

Times Commentary:  Derek Clark's layup with six seconds left lifts Cougars past Eisenhower and back into top 25. (NR)

SoCalHoops Commentary:     Ranking is such an inexact artform, we can understand how the pollsters would try to sneak in Crenshaw, as though they hadn't been out there all along....admittedly we had the Cougars ranked as No. 8 in the City ourselves, so we're not faulting anyone.  But with a win over Eisenhower and the Mission Prep title, don't they deserve better than No. 15?  Hey, we're just asking.....

16. Redondo Union (5-3, SS-Bay)

Times Commentary:  Tough-luck Seahawks slip a spot in rankings without playing. (15)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   Er, um why do the Seahawks drop?  Because the Times finally realized Crenshaw was lurking out there, and they beat the Times currently ranked No. 5 team.  Frankly, we though No. 15 (or higher) to be appropriate for Redondo at this point in the season, but not 12 spots lower than league rival Inglewood.

17. King (8-2, SS-Sunkist)

Times Commentary:  Gives Hemet West Valley a tip of the crown after close call. (18)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   If they can learn to play together all the time this will be a great team with Lea, Rosborough and the rest.

18. El Segundo (8-1, SS-Ocean)

Times Commentary:  Eagles, having played one game in two weeks, ready to pick up the pace. (19)

SoCalHoops Commentary:   Yes, El Segundo has the record, and they have DaShawn Strong.  But for not playing this past week, why move them up a notch?

19. Lakewood (8-0, SS-Moore)

Times Commentary:  Lancers still seeking respect. (20)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Er, um, ok. Lakewood is still seeking respect. Seems to us that the Times is giving them plenty of respect, because they moved from 20 to 19 without playing this past week.....

20 Capistrano Valley (8-3, SS-South Coast)

Times Commentary:  Cougars could have made a run at anyone the way they played against Villa Park. (25)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Wow.  We would have moved them up a lot more than just No. 20.  That win over Villa Park says quite a bit about this team and it's potential.

21. Verbum Dei (6-3, SS-Camino Real)

Times Commentary:  Eagles rest wings during off week. (21)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Richard Chaney (Utah) and some other tough players make this one hard to argue with, even if they didn't play this past week.

22. Thousand Oaks (9-1, SS-Marmonte)

Times Commentary:  Ben Olson leads Lancers to Arroyo Grande tournament title. (22)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  We've seen the Lancers.  Well coached, good athletes, and they run their offense well.  But considering their one loss was to Sylmar in the Championship of the Sylmar tournament, we're wondering how it is that the Spartans aren't also included among the Top 25?

23. Claremont (9-3, SS-Baseline)

Times Commentary:  Wolfpack back in the hunt after early-season foibles. (NR)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Better than they've played thus far. We're sort of puzzled that with a couple of good wins they're back in the Times' good graces, but why not....they ought to do a Top 50 instead, given the number of talented teams in the region.

24. Price (10-2, SS-Harbor)

Times Commentary:  Knights still basking in glow of last week's narrow victory over Downey Calvary Chapel. (NR)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  Price is an interesting team, one we think will be the three-time State D-V champs this year.   They play hard and are well coached.

25. Downey Calvary Chapel (11-2, SS-Academy)

Times Commentary:  Grizzlies feel golden after winning Silver Division of Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic. (NR)

SoCalHoops Commentary:  We agree, with the way these guys have been playing, they are a top 25 team....we might even rank them higher. 

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